A Heart willing to sacrifice for Jesus

Dear Friends,

Sacrifice - is defined as "to make offerings to God of things consumed on the altar; anything consecrated and offered to a divinity; anything given up for the sake of others." (Collins New English Dictionary)

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His Life, to the point of death, to make atonement for our sins on the Cross. He was beaten beyond recognition...."his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness..." (Isa. 52:14b NIV)

The soldiers pulled out the hair in his beard, spat on him, and ridiculed him. "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting". (Isa 50:6 NIV) The soldiers stripped Him of all His Clothes, and hung him naked on the Cross. "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." (John 19:24b NIV)

Jesus was stripped of every human dignity. He did not protest, but willingly gave His ALL that we may live eternally with Him. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth." (Isa. 53:7 NIV)

There is no greater sacrifice to give than to give up your life. Jesus led by example. He will not ask of us anything that He, Himself, was not prepared to give.

There is no such thing as a free, or painless sacrifice. A sacrifice hurts in some way. It is not always the easiest decision to make.
King David offered a sacrifice to God, to ask for mercy, so that no more Israelites would be killed by the plague. Araunah the Jebusite was willing to give King David all he needed to make this sacrifice. But King David refused his offer. King David said, "I will not sacrifice to the Lord My God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Samuel 24:24b NIV) So there has to be a personal cost to the sacrifices made to God.

Jesus applauded a widow who gave her ALL to Him. He did not look at the dollar value of what people gave. He did not consider the offering of a rich man to be greater than an offering from a poor widow. Jesus saw the two very small copper coins the widow put in the offering; and commended her. "All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (Luke 21:4 NIV)

Jesus looks at our hearts. He knows if we are giving Him everything, or if we are holding back. We cannot fool God. We may deceive people, but He knows when we are truly giving our very best.

Much like a farmer who grows foodcrops. If he only sows seed in 30% of his field, he will only get 30% of the harvest he potentially could have.

If the farmer applied more effort, and planted 60% of his field, then he could get a 60% return on his investment.

But if the farmer sowed the entire field, giving 100% of himself and his resources, then he could reap a bountiful harvest. He would yield a 100% return.

The basic principle is that what you put in, is what you get out. (Based on the Parable of the Sower. Mark 4:8, 20 NIV)

We all have choices. The final decision is ours.

How much are we willing to sacrifice for Jesus? Are we willing to give our ALL? Or will we choose to hold back?